Repeating toy pistol



June 29, 1937. w. R. BIXLER 2,085,412

REPEATING TOY PISTOL Filed Feb. 19, 1954 W Z: I Z2 Z4- 26 2732 35 44ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in toy pistols, and moreparticularly to toy pistols of the automatic type wherein a strip orroll of caps are progressively fed and exploded by the simultaneousoperation of the trigger and hammer.

Hitherto it has been proposed to use automatic toy pistols of the typein which the trigger mechanism and cooperating hammer mechanisms areadapted to rotate about a stud or pin in which an auxiliary operatingmember is interposed between the trigger and hammer mechanisms fortransmitting the power to the hammer. With such devices it has beenfound that the manipulation of the trigger or so-called trigger squeezeto simulate the ordinary action of the automatic type pistol, has notbeen possible, due to the jerky action of the first-class lever triggermechanism used, and also to the auxiliary operating members.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved toypistol-operating mechanism in which the trigger member forms a lever ofthe second class.

It is a further feature of this invention to provide such an improvedtoy pistol in which the hammer mechanism is directly connected to andactuated by the trigger mechanism.

It is also a further feature of this invention to provide improvedautomatic toy pistols adapted to use rolls of caps in which the caps areseparately fed by a trigger-driven, actuating member in conjunction witha fixed plate member.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of an improvedtrigger mechanism permitting an improved trigger squeeze in which thetrigger is mounted as a lever of the second class.

These and other desirable features and advantages of the presentinvention will be described in the accompanying specification andillustrated in the drawing, certain preferred embodiments being shown byway of illustration only, for, since the underlying principles may beincorporated in other specific devices, it is not intended to be limitedto the ones here shown except as such limitationsare clearly indicatedby the appended claims.

In the drawing like numerals refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views, of which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a toy pistol with amagazine cover moved to one side to show the cap-feeding mechanism andhammer mechanism;

Fig.2 is an elevation of a pistol with one side of the casing removedand showing the association of the several parts;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of spring foroperating the hammer;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the trigger and hammer members with thecap-strip actuating member interposed therebetween;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the members shown in Fig. 4 showing theconfiguration and assembly thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through the handle of the gun showing amodified torsion spring for controlling the hammer.

Referring now to the drawing, the improved toy pistol of the presentinvention comprises a casing I0 including mating sections |2, securedtogether in any desired manner as by means of bolts or screws IS. Acover I4 is formed on the section l2 and is adapted to be moved about astud or a pin l5 whereby to serve as a closure or cover for a chamber orspace I6 formed in the handle of the gun, in which space is mounted theoperating mechanism of the gun. The mating sections H and |2 of the guncasing are apertured at the upper rear portion toprovide a space Hpermitting the movement of the hammer 40a of the hammer mechanism orplate 40.

The operative members of the pistol mechanism comprise a trigger memberdesignated generally by the numeral 20, a cap-strip actuating memberdesignated generally by the numeral 30, and a hammer piece designatedgenerally by the numeral 40. Associated with these three members aretorsion spring 2|, compression spring 3| and torsion spring 4|,severally adapted to maintain the members 20, 30 and 4!! in operative,engaged position. A leaf spring Ma may be used in place of the torsionspring 4| for the hammer-urging spring, as shown more particularly inFig. 3.

In the hammer mechanism shown in Fig. 6 the torsion spring 4| is mountedon member 54, the hammer-engaging end being extended up against thehammer for an appreciable distance, while the shorter end is adapted tobe urged against a post or stud member 5% as a stop.

The section II of the pistol casing is provided with an integral triggerguard 8. In addition, the casing section II is provided with an integralanvil 5| at the forward end of the aperture H. In addition to the anvilthere is provided a plate 52 adapted to cooperate with thestrip-actuating member 3|]. Pins 53, 54, are provided to serve as pivotsfor the trigger and hammer" members,

respectively. A pin or stud 55 is provided at the bottom portion of thechamber l6 and is adapted to receive the roll of caps 50.

Considering the operating members in some detail, the trigger 20comprises a generally triangular member which may have a centralaperture 20a, a finger-engaging portion 22, and an elongated slot 23adapted to rotate about pintle 53 as a fulcrum. The aperture 200:. mayserve to permit the trigger member 26 to rock freely about the bolt orscrew I3 which joins the casing parts of the pistol together. A socketmember 24 is provided at the bottom of the trigger, this socketcomprising a generally circular member, apertured, as indicated at 25,and adapted to receive the ball or cylinder 32 of the cap-stripactuating member 30 whereby to form therewith an articulated joint. Themember 20 is provided with a projection 25 extending from one sidethereof which projection is in turn provided with an angular sectipn 27,for the purpose to be described hereinafter. Rearwardly of the section24 the trigger is provided preferably with a flat surface 28 adapted toserve as a bearing surface for the compression spring 3| mounted on thestud or pin 33 of the member 30.

The hammer piece preferably comprises a generally U-shaped member havinga strikingface or hammer 4| formed at the inner portion of the longerleg 42 and a tripping member or shoulder 43 formed at the upper end orshoulder of the shorter leg 44. The shorter leg 540f thismember isdisplaced with respect to the leg 42 and forms a well, depression orsocket 45 through which the cap-strip 5| may be threaded from the rollof caps 56. The hammer piece is provided with an aperture 45 at thebottom of the leg 42, which aperture is adapted to engage the pivot orpin 54 formed on the casing member H and about which the hammer piece isadapted to be rotated. The shoulder 43 is provided with a face 41 overwhich the boss 25 of the trigger plate is adapted to slide when thetrigger is returned to the off position, the elongated slot 23permitting the trigger plate to ride over the fulcrum 53 a sufilcientdistance to allow the plate to clear the upper end of the arm 44 of thehammer piece.

The cap-strip-advancing member 30, as noted above, is not only providedwith a ball or articulating member 32 adapted to engage the socket 24 ofthe trigger plate, but is provided with a stud 33 adapted to flexiblyengage a spiral compression spring member 3|, which in turn ismaintained against the section 28 of the trigger plate 25. Thecompression spring 3| maintains a uniform pressure on member 30, as itrides on flat spring 36 and cap-plate 52. The flat spring 36 is held inposition by the stud 51 and shoulder 55 formed in the member H, and itsfree end engages the cap plate 52, permitting the cap-strip 6| to bethreaded therebetween and slidably held in position. By thisconstruction, the advancing member 30 engages the capstring 6| andadvances it in a resilient manner, which is made possible by theflexibility of compression spring member 3|.

The trigger plate 20 is held in normal inoperative position by torsionspring 2|. The boss 26 receives one leg of the torsion spring 2|, whilethe other leg is held in engaged position by a boss 58 formed in theupper portion of the easing member The torsion spring 4|, whichmaintains the hammer in position, may be provided with two legs, one ofwhich is engaged with a pin or stud 59 formed on the casing member whilethe other end of the spring may grip the rear portion or edge 48 of thehammer piece. Where a leaf spring 4|a is used to urge the hammer pieceinto position, a shoulder or dog 49 may be formed at the bottom of theleg or arm 42 of the hammer member, a socket 59a being formed at thebottom of the chamber l6 formed in the bottom of the handle portion ofmember H.

In operation, a roll of caps 50 is mounted on the pintle in the chamberl6 formed in the handle of the toy pistol. The leading or free end ofthe cap-strip 6| is threaded through the leaf spring 36 past thegripping Wedge-shaped end 34 of the cap-strip-advancing or actuatingmember 30 on and against the plate 52 until it is brought in firingposition in front of and abutting the anvil 5|.

The trigger 22 of the trigger plate when retracted rearwardly causes thenotch or projection 21 of the boss 25 on the trigger plate to engage theshoulder or angle 43 of the hammer piece, forcing the latter backagainst the action of the hammer coil spring 4| or leaf spring M11, asthe case may be, causing the hammer piece to rotate about the pivotmember 54. Simultaneously with this operation the articulation of member30 with trigger plate 20 by means of the socket joint 24, causes theforward or pointed end 34 of the member 3|) to be pushed into andadvance the cap-strip material 6|. The capstrip is held in positionagainst the plate 52 by the leaf spring 36. As the member 3|] is pushedinto the cap-strip, it is forced to ride up on the plate 52, thuspushing the cap-strip 6| upwardly in front of the anvil 5|. When thehammer is pushed to its rearmost position the dog or shoulder 43disengages from the boss 26 and the hammer coil spring 42a projects andforces the hammer forward, the hammer face 4| striking the anvil 5|,causing the cap interposed therebetween to explode. In the forwardmovement of the hammer caused by the spring 4| or 4|a, the face 47 ofthe leg 44 of the hammer piece pushes the underside of the boss 26upwardly and forwardly, which causes a forward and return movement ofthe trigger piece as far as the length of the pivot slot 23 permits.When the face 41 of the hammer leg 44 has passed the boss 25 of thetrigger plate, the coil spring 2| mounted on pintle 53 forces thetrigger plate forward to normal, inoperative position.

With the trigger mechanism formed as a lever of the second class whereinthe force supplied by the finger on the trigger surface 22 isintermediate the point of resistance 2'5 and the fulcrum 23, a distinctmechanical advantage is secured, as well as a smooth pull of thetrigger. This smooth pull prevents a jerky operation of the gun as thereis no rotation of the trigger plate about a central axis, as occurs inthe average gun. This improved trigger pull is so marked that it ispossible to practice trigger squeeze exercises with the improved toypistol of the present invention which result has only been possiblehitherto with real pistols.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described, or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved toy pistol comprising a twopart casing and having atrigger and a firing piece, including a hammer and a cap-strip advancingmember mounted. on the trigger, a capstrip plate mounted on the casing,the said capstrip advancing member being adapted to cooperate with thecap-strip plate to advance a capstrip into firing position, the triggerpiece being of generally triangular configuration and pivoted at one ofthe apexes, the lower apex portion serving as a finger section, the saidtrigger piece including a socket on the bottom edge for receiving andmoving the cap-strip-advancing member, and including on the third sideand i above the said socket member, a pivot member; a hammer member ofgenerally U shape having a forward upper dog for engaging the triggermember and being disposed over and around the cap-strip plate, thehammer being pivoted at the bottom of its rear leg and the two legs ofthe hammer or firing piece being bridged to form a groove to permit thecap-strip to be fed therethrough.

2. A toy pistol comprising a casing having mating portions, an operatingmechanism pivotally mounted on one portion of the casing and comprisinga generally triangular trigger member suspended from an apex to presenta substantially perpendicular forward edge and a rearwardly directedbody portion having hammer and cap-strip-engaging members therein and insubstantially the same vertical plane with respect to each other, thesaid trigger member being mounted as a second-class lever, a hammermember directly operated and tripped by its actuating section on thetrigger member, cap-strip feeding means directly articulated to thetrigger member below the hammer engaging section and provided with meansmaintaining same in generally horizontal operating position and adaptedto cooperate with the casing in a generally horizontal rearward motionupon movement of the trigger to firing position to simultaneouslyadvance the cap-strip, the said trigger member and hammer member beingseparately spring-urged and the cap-strip-advancing member beingprovided with a compression spring, the said several moving parts beingheld on their respective pivots by the opposed mating section of thecasing.

3. A toy pistol comprising a casing having mating portions, an operatingmechanism pivotally mounted on one portion of the casing and comprisinga torsion spring-urged trigger member of generally triangular shape andhaving a substantially vertical, forwards edge, including pivot means atthe top thereof and a bottom finger portion, the said member beingmounted as a second-class lever, a spring-urged hammer member pivotallymounted on the casing and adapted to be tripped by the trigger member ina substantially lateral movement, the said hammer member being so formedand arranged as to permit the passage of a cap-strip therethrough; aspring-urged cap-strip-advancing member articulated to the triggermember and adapted to work substantially horizontally against a fixedcap-strip member formed on the said casing; a stud formed on the casingand below the hammer member and adapted to receive a cap-strip; aleaf-spring member secured at one end to the casing and having its freeend contacting with the said cap-strip plate, the said spring memberbeing adapted to hold the cap-strip against the cap-strip plate andpermitting the same to be gripped and advanced by the advancing capstripmember, the said several moving parts and cap-strip being held on theirrespective pivots by the opposed mating section of the casing.

WILLARD R. BIXLER.

